From The Zoologist, March 1899
WITH the Editor's permission, I apply myself to the office of Coroner for the Birds of Norfolk.
However, I am glad to say an East Anglian naturalist's notebook is not such a deathroll as it used to be except for hawks and owls, the law seeming to be a dead letter as regards these birds.
A more self-opinionated race than gamekeepers does not exist.
One of the fraternity remarked in my hearing that he did not think the Kestrel did much harm, but he added significantly: "It is all the same to me; if I have my gun, I shoot all hawks."
I think all masters should forbid indiscriminate shooting.
Surely there is no preserver of game to whom it would not be mortifying to see a beautiful Kestrel swinging in a post-trap, which, in its last struggles, has thrown up a large pellet of beetles' wings.
This was witnessed on August 16 when there was no excuse for setting a pole-trap.
The keeper's onslaughts on the Sparrowhawk may be pardoned because this thief is almost entirely a bird-eater, and there is no fear of his exterminating that species.
I do not wish to give the pretty butcher-bird a bad name, but I have it on pretty good authority that our Red-backed Shrike was again convicted of killing some very small Pheasants at Cromer.
This is no surprise to anyone who has seen this strong bird carrying off in its feet a prey half as big as itself, but keepers should know that the large yellow-tailed bumble-bee is its favourite food.
Another deadly robber of game-eggs is the Carrion Crow, but, for all that, I am glad to say they have again this summer nested by the river at Keswick, though not in their old plantation.
We found the nest, which is always a large construction with a very substantial foundation of thick sticks, and I think it is more cup-shaped than a Rook's nest.
A very few of these birds still keep to our river valleys, but before long they will be as extinct as the Raven.
Mr. Caton Haigh tells me they are still abundant in Lincolnshire, as well as the Magpie which is becoming very rare in Norfolk.
There is another class which is suffering greatly - I mean the marsh birds - which, in the past, have helped to render Norfolk Broads so attractive by their presence.
This great diminution is no doubt in part due to the decreasing area of our Broads, most of which are gradually "growing up"; but still more owing to the number of river yachts and wherries which visit these attractive waterways, and scare the birds, to say nothing of what has been done to compass their destruction by a well-known dealer in birds' eggs in the West of England.
It is now several years since the Reeve has bred in Norfolk, in fact, not since 1889, when, walking over "Rush-hills," I found the nest, and was near treading on the four eggs.
The last appearance, or rather re-appearance, of these birds in any quantity was in 1893 when, for some reason. there was an unprecedented passage of waders of all sorts through Norfolk.
On May 24 of that year my correspondent, the Rev. M.C. Bird, observed more than 20 Ruffs and Reeves at their old home, some of the males with fine frills, a sight neither he nor any other naturalist is likely to see again.
Coincident with the increase of the Shoveler, the Garganey has become very rare, and the reason is not obvious.
The marshman at Sutton has not known of a nest for some years, and I doubt if 1898 saw two nests hatched off in the whole Broad district; while there is no other spot in England where these birds breed.
I remember when their eggs were not uncommon at Hickling, but now Mr. Bird's notes from time to time only mention the Garganey as a great rarity compared to the Shoveler, and generally seen in April.
Mr. Bird has not been able to definitely ascertain whether any Garganeys have bred in the Hickling district since 1891.
Of another species, the Spotted Crake, formerly very characteristic of the Broads, Mr. Bird, in a recent letter, writes: "Spotted Rails have not been nearly so frequent of late years.
"One at Potter Heigham, on October 5, is the only one I have heard of being shot for some time."
It appears that, up to 20 years ago, Spotted Crakes were pretty numerous, but since September and October, 1881, when there was a migration, they have been steadily decreasing in East Norfolk.
I have no doubt the presence of so many visitors on our principal Broads helps to drive them away.
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